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A review by alecashlark
King of the Dark by Ariana Nash
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
King of the Dark (The Prince’s Assassin #1) has an intriguing setup that's supported by an exciting buildup but is tarnished by a lackluster climax and an underwhelming ending. Regardless, the main characters are real and well-fleshed out, and the execution of integrating the romance into the plot is nothing short of superb. King of the Dark is recommended if one is looking for a very slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance set against a backdrop of trauma, mystery, danger, and betrayal.
Final rating: 4 stars | Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐ | Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review:
The writing style is like that of a surgeon's cut— it's clean and precise. Nuanced but without nuisance. The deliberate use of specific words,phrasing, and sentence structure is effective in achieving its intended effect on me as a reader. This allows for a smooth, almost seamless reading experience. The story is written in a third-person limited POV narration that is quite immersive; it almost reads like a first-person.
The main characters, especially Niko, have that extra depth that I look for in characters. Their desires and fears and motivations are splayed on the page. They are so real, Niko more so than the others, that I am more occupied with what's happening inside their heads than what's happening around them. Consequently, I particularly like the introspections that, despite the type of narration, are engrossing.
I can't remember ever having read a type of "romantic atmosphere" like the one in this book. It's refreshing, to say the least. The romance is so well done under the given circumstances that I would be fine if the enemies-to-lovers prospect never happened. Still, throughout most of the book, I'm wondering and anticipating how that romance will transition or morph from one type to another. And again, the manner in which the romance is utilized in achieving one plot element is so, so good.
The plot starts good and it builds up even better. There's trauma, then suffering, then intrigue, then danger, then mystery. But sadly, the part of the book around climax and ending is a bit rushed and therefore lacks intensity and conviction. There's more than enough emotion, but it's not given proper "page time" to actually move me as a reader. The general antagonist is reputed to be savage in their ways, and this part could be an opportunity to demonstrate that live, but I discover nothing more about them than what I already have prior. Nevertheless, I have never been surprised by a twist the way I am by the one in this book.
I've watched every second of Game of Thrones and The Witcher, and King of the Dark has little to no significant resemblance to both TV series. This book has not an ounce of Game of Throne's blatant ruthlessness and deceitful maneuvers, and neither has this book a drop of The Witcher's thrilling monster hunts and action-packed adventures. With that said, King of the Dark is a compelling story all on its own and doesn't have to be falsely compared to other stories to draw readers.
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Final rating: 4 stars | Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐ | Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review:
The writing style is like that of a surgeon's cut— it's clean and precise. Nuanced but without nuisance. The deliberate use of specific words,phrasing, and sentence structure is effective in achieving its intended effect on me as a reader. This allows for a smooth, almost seamless reading experience. The story is written in a third-person limited POV narration that is quite immersive; it almost reads like a first-person.
The main characters, especially Niko, have that extra depth that I look for in characters. Their desires and fears and motivations are splayed on the page. They are so real, Niko more so than the others, that I am more occupied with what's happening inside their heads than what's happening around them. Consequently, I particularly like the introspections that, despite the type of narration, are engrossing.
I can't remember ever having read a type of "romantic atmosphere" like the one in this book. It's refreshing, to say the least. The romance is so well done under the given circumstances that I would be fine if the enemies-to-lovers prospect never happened. Still, throughout most of the book, I'm wondering and anticipating how that romance will transition or morph from one type to another. And again, the manner in which the romance is utilized in achieving one plot element is so, so good.
The plot starts good and it builds up even better. There's trauma, then suffering, then intrigue, then danger, then mystery. But sadly, the part of the book around climax and ending is a bit rushed and therefore lacks intensity and conviction. There's more than enough emotion, but it's not given proper "page time" to actually move me as a reader. The general antagonist is reputed to be savage in their ways, and this part could be an opportunity to demonstrate that live, but I discover nothing more about them than what I already have prior. Nevertheless, I have never been surprised by a twist the way I am by the one in this book.
I've watched every second of Game of Thrones and The Witcher, and King of the Dark has little to no significant resemblance to both TV series. This book has not an ounce of Game of Throne's blatant ruthlessness and deceitful maneuvers, and neither has this book a drop of The Witcher's thrilling monster hunts and action-packed adventures. With that said, King of the Dark is a compelling story all on its own and doesn't have to be falsely compared to other stories to draw readers.
Follow me: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Wordpress